Ringgold’s Conroy removes sting from state tournament
Jonathan Guth/For the Observer-Reporter
Conroy takes stings away from 4th-place finish in state tournament
McMURRAY – Jake Conroy wasn’t set on competing for the WPIAL All-Stars in the 51st Annual Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic.
The Ringgold senior and Cornell commit didn’t reach his goal of winning a state championship, as he finished fourth in the PIAA Class 3A Championships at 215 pounds.
Conroy, who earned a major decision in his match Saturday night at Peters Township High School, was glad he took the advice of his coaches and wrestled.
“Taking fourth to the same three kids three weeks in a row kind of hit me hard,” Conroy said. “I got the email after states where I was asked to be on the team, but I was still so upset and mad about it, I didn’t have the right mentality the first couple days of practice. It took my high school and club coaches to help me recover. I think it was more about my mentality coming into this match. Dakoda Rodgers from UPJ came down and worked out with me, and that really helped prepare me for this match.”
Conroy’s victory helped lead the WPIAL to a 29-17 victory over the New Jersey in the second of three dual meets.
New Jersey had cut the deficit to 22-17, and with Conroy coming up at 215 against Conor Dulaney of Rumson-Fair Haven, the WPIAL All-Stars hadn’t clinched the victory.
Conroy used four takedowns, a turn for four near-fall points and three escapes to defeat Dulaney, 19-8, in a matchup of future Ivy Leaguers, as Dulaney has committed to wrestle for Princeton.
“I love scoring,” Conroy said. “As much as it is nice to get a nice easy win, I love scoring, and even if they do some scoring, I am happy to exchange with my opponents. I got that first takedown and he got a reversal right after that, but it was just lazy hips on my part. He executed well and is a great wrestler.
“We will probably battle each other in the Ivy Leagues. All respect to him, but I let that match get closer than it probably should have. I also didn’t think the team score was going to be as close. I think we showed why the WPIAL is one of the toughest districts in the state, and Pennsylvania is definitely the toughest state in the country.”
Fort Cherry’s Braedon Welsh dropped a 4-1 decision to Vincenzo Lavalle of Hanover Park at 189. Lavalle, who is a Princeton recruit, was second in the state of New Jersey. He is ranked seventh in the country.
Welsh, who placed third in the PIAA at 215 in Class 2A, will continue his collegiate career at Brown.
The event kicked off with a girls dual meet featuring the Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Team Pennsylvania was a 49-16 winner with Connellsville’s Janayah Nobles earning a 7-2 victory at 130 to represent the WPIAL.
Tamara Humphries, representing Brashear in the City League, earned a victory by fall at 112.
In the main event, the United States defeated Pennsylvania, 26-16.